Liquid measuring and dispensing device



M y 1940- J. E. WOLLENWEBER 2,202,073

LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 M y 1940- J. E. WOLLENWEBER 02,073

LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 2 1940- J. E. WOLLENWEBER LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet I5 Jlz'us Z- WMZemv/eZen.

a4, M W I W1 y 23, 1940- J. E. WOLLENWEBER LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 dialz'zzsl? 7451mm y 1940- J. E. WOLLENWEBER ,202,073

LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE May 28, 1940. J. E. WOLLENWEBER 2,202,073

LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet s y 1940- J. E. WQLLENWEBER LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 f) k w a k M z 5 a 2 Patented 28,, 1940 3;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,202,073 LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Julius E. Wollenweber, Detroit, Mich, assignor to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 26, 1938, Serial No. 210,257 18 Claims. (Cl. 226-99) In Patent No. 2,070,841. ranted to C. W. arranging the means, including the liquid supply Reade and Henry T. Scott February 16, 1937, tank and its connections, for supplying liquid there is disclosed a mechanism for handling to the volume measuring elements of the apparaliquids which, while designed and constructed so tus, an improved flow of liquid throughthemechas to be capable of use in the handling or disanism is secured, whereby there is less tendency 5 pensing of liquids of all kinds, is particularly for the formation of foam. The discharge nozzles suitable for use in charging containers with carethrough which the liquid is ultimately discharged fully measured amounts or volumes of milk. into the container has also been redesigned and The present invention comprises an improveimproved so that the tendency of the liquid to l0 ment upon the liquid handling mechanism which foam as it passes into a container is further reforms the subject matter of the patent just menduced. Numerous additional elements of the tloned and includes also numerous features which mechanism have been simplified and refined so may be advantageously used in connection with that the mechanism as a whole functions in an liquid handling mechanisms generally. It is improved manner.

, likewise primarily intended for use in connection One form or embodiment of the invention is 15 with the dispensing of liquid dairy products and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in is especially serviceable when employed as the which:

container charging unit of a complete automatic Figure 1 is a plan view of the entire mecha machine for forming, charging, closing and sealm'sm; ing paper containers. Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away 20 It is essential that a mechanism for handling to show more clearly certain of its details of dairy liquids, such as milk, be of such character construction; that it can be maintained in a sterile condition. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1; A further consideration of importance is ac- Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure l; curacy, it being required that all mechanisms of Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure l; 5

this type deposit in each container charged Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 3; exactly the right amount of liquid. A further Figure 7 is a section on line li of Figure 3;

requirement of such a mechanism is that it shall Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure 3; function rapidly, preferably in a wholly auto- Figure 9 is a section on line 8-9 of Figure 8; matic manner, without wastage due to overflow Figure 10 is a view, on a larger scale, showing 30 or spillage, such for instance as might result a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure from foaming of the liquid as it flows into a 8; container. Figure 11 is a section on line H-H of Figure 8; While the liquid handling mechanism dis- Figure 12 is a section on line i2-l2 of Figure 3; closed and claimed in the patent referred to quite Figure 13 is a view on a lar er scale, and parsuccessfully met, in actual use, the requirements tially broken away of the float cnntrolledj valve above set forth, it has nevertheless been posmechanism shown in Figure 12; sible to further perfect and improve it in a num- Figure 14 is a section on line 14- of her of respects so that its usefulness as a complete Figure 3; automatic container filling mechanism has been Figure 15 is a section on line Iii-l5 of Figure 3; 4 considerably increased. Thus by redesigning its Figure 16 is a wiring diagram illustrating the essential elements in the manner hereinafter to arrangement of circuits through several of the be described, the mechanism has been rendered safety switches which comprise portions of the more sanitary in that its parts are of simpler improved mechanism; and design, more readily taken apart for the purpose Figure 1'7 is a section on line !1-i1 of Figure 3. 4g of sterilization and more easily reassembled, the The liquid handling mechanism, as has premechanism likewise having less tendency to viously been stated, is of general utility and its p t leakage t occur when in p a n, ven novel features may be embodied in mechanisms fte p o o d The liquid measuring p or apparatus which differ widely in appearance 0 tion of the apparatus has likewise been considfrom that shown. That form of mechanism which erably improved and simplified, an important has been illustrated by way of example has been feature of the new design being the provision of designed for ready assembly as one unit of a commeans to insure the delivery by the mechanism plete automatic machine for forming, charging of successive accurately measured volumes, such and sealing containers and in the drawings is as quart volumes of liquids when quart volumes shown to be supported upon portion of the frame 55 are required, and pint volumes when pint volumes members of such a machine. Thus in Figures 1 are required, it being impossible for the operaand 3 the numerals l0 and- H indicate portions of tor to accidentally adjust the machine so that it the parallel elongated side frame members of will deliver pints when quarts are required or the entire automatic machine andthe various quarts when pints are required. Again, by reparts of the improved liquid dispensing or w handling apparatus are supported either directly upon this frame or upon the inverted U-shaped bracket l2 which bridges the side frame members It and H. The mechanism may of course be otherwise supported.

Parallel container supporting rails are indicated at l3 and a container resting upon these rails is indicated in chain lines (Figure 3) at H. Parallel conveyor chains are indicated at l5 and, in the normal operation of the mechanism, an entire series of containers is mounted upon the supporting rails l3 and intermittently moved along these rails by the conveyor chains 15, each container being halted in two successive charge receiving positions as it passes under the bridging memberl2 and the filling mechanism which is supported thereon. The container supporting rails l3 and the associated conveyor chains l5 are vertically adjustable so that containers of various heights may be passed through the machine without difliculty and in such manner that the top of each container, regardless of the height of the container, will during charging be positioned at the same distance from the mouths of the liquid discharge nozzles immediately above it, the mechanism being therefore able to accurately charge containers of various capacities with equal facility. The details of the container supporting and advancing mechanism need not be herein described since such details form no portion of the present invention, and any other suitable type of container supporting and advancing mechanism may be employed.

In Figure 7 paper containers, for instance of the type disclosed in the Henry T. Scott Patent No. 2,047,891, are indicated in chain lines to show their approximate spacing on the conveying means, which spacing is such that two containers are always in position to receive liquid from the charging apparatus in the normal operation of the machine, one container, indicated at C in Figure 7, underlying the discharge nozzle of'a first container charging unit indicated generally at M and a second container, indicated at C underlying the discharge nozzle of a second container charging unit, generally indicated at M. The direction of movement of the containers with respect to the filling units is indicated by the arrow A in this figure and each successive container, when brought into the position indicated at C, receives from the filling unit M above it, one half of its total charge, whether it is of pint, quart, or half pint size, and when further advanced through an intermediate position to position C receives the remaining half of its total charge, the charging being effected in two successive partial operations in order that any foam formed within the container when given its initial partial filling be allowed to subside before the remainder of the charge is introduced, thus avoiding the excessive'foaming which tends to occur when the charge is introduced in its entirety in one filling operation. After being further advanced from the position indicated at C in Figure 7, in the direction of the arrow A, the charged container is transmitted to mechanism for closing and sealing the same.

The two filling units M and M are illlustrated in various views of the drawings, and are substantially identical in construction. Each comprises essentially a cylinder 20 with vertically disposed axis and provided with flanges 20' at-' tached by means of bolts to the side of the bridging bracket l2, which bracket extends between the cylinders and rigidly supports them, a piston 2| its liquid discharge slidably fitting within the interior of the cylinder, together with piston operating mechanism, liquid supply mechanism, and a slide valve for controlling the flow of liquid into and out of the cylinder.

From an inspection of Figure 4, it will be perceived that cylinder 20 is provided with an annular flange 22 at its bottom which engages the upper horizontal face of a block 23 and that the lower end of the piston 2| is frusto-conical and enters a similarly shaped recess in block 22 when the piston is in its lowermost position, the frustoconical surfaces of piston and block closely engaging each other when the piston is so positioned and the cylindrical side wall of the piston closely engaging at all times the cylindrical wall of the cylinder 20. When lowered to the position shown in Figure 4, therefore, the piston completely fills the lower end of the cylinder and this is the position of the piston at the completion of stroke, so that any liquid which has been drawn into the cylinder on the upstroke of the piston is completely discharged therefrom during its downstroke. The circular opening, coaxial with the cylinder, in the lower face of block 23, comprises a common liquid inlet and discharge port for the cylinder through which liquid alternately passes into the cylinder and is discharged therefrom. A valve 24 slid able in a horizontal plane transverse to the cylinder axis is operated in synchronism with piston 2i by means hereinafter to be fully descrl-bedfor the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid into and out of the cylinder, slide valve 24 comprising essentially an elongated plate, rectangular in transverse section, and having parallel upper and lower faces, the upper face of valve 24 seating against the lower face of block 23 and the lower face of valve 24 resting upon the upper face of valve supporting plate 25.

Valve 24 is provided with two liquid ports, an elongated port 26 which is formed as an upwardly opening recess in the body of the valve and a cylindrical port 21 which extends completely through the valve. The lower end of a conduit or duct for transmitting liquid downwardly to the upper face of the valve is indicated at 28, the mouth of this duct overlying valve port 26. A discharge nozzle which directly underlies the cylinder port is indicated at 29, preferably com- I prising an integral portion of valve supporting plate 25. It will be perceived that this discharge nozzle has two channels, angularly disposed, so that any fluid flowing downwardly therethrough is divided into two streams. The channels are so directed that the downfiowing streams of liquid strike opposed vertical side walls of a container positioned below the same, liquid flowing downwardly over these wall surfaces to the container bottom, this for the purpose of minimizing foaming in the case that the liquid being thus discharged has a tendency to foam when agitated.

In Figure 4 of the drawings the valve 24 is shown in the position which it occupies during and at the completion of the discharge stroke of the piston 21. Prior to upward movement of the piston the valve is shifted so that port 2! is moved to the right, out of register with the cylinder port, and port 26 is likewise moved to the right so that it registers both with the discharge port at the lower end of the fluid supply conduit 28 and with the cylinder port. Subsequently to this positioning of the valve, the piston is elevated and, as it rises, fluid flows from con-- atmosphere.

duit 23 through port 26 upwardly into the cylinder beneath the piston, the volume of fluid thus entering the cylinder being equal to the piston displacement and continuing so long as the piston moves upwardly. The fluid in the duct 23 is under static pressure and the liquid is forced into the cylinder by this pressure rather than drawn into the cylinder by suction resulting from the displacement of the piston, there being therefore no tendency for air to be drawn past the piston into the lower end of the cylinder as the piston is moved upwardly. After the conclusion of the charging stroke of the piston, the valve is again shiftedto the position in which it is shown in Figure 4, the piston lowered, and the contents of the cylinder discharged into the container beneath, this cycle of operations being rapidly repeated during the operation of the mechanism. It will be understood that the companion filling or charging unit M is identical in construction, is similarly supplied with fluid, and functions simultaneously, so that while one container is receiving the first half of its charge, a preceding container is receiving the second or final half of its charge.

It will be perceived that the diameter of the valve discharge port 21, which is cylindrical, is somewhat greater than the diameter of the,cylinder port which lies directly above it when the valve is in the position shown in Figure 4, the margin of the cylinder port overlying or projecting inwardly beyond the wall of the cylindrical port 21. It will likewise be perceived in Figures 4 and '7 that an elongated shallow groove or recess 3i is'formed in the upper face of the valve 24, the inner end of this groove opening into port 21, and the outer end being open to the It has been found highly desirable in actual practice to provide a liquid discharge port in the valve which is of larger diameter than the cylinder port and to likewise provide a duct or passage 3i leading from the valve port to the atmosphere in order that all of the liquid discharged from the cylinder through the cylinder port will promptly find its way to the container below. Without the provision of the duct 3i liquid will collect in the corner between the cylindrical wall of port 21 and the undersurface of the overhanging annular portion of the lower face of block 23 immediately above it, which liquid will move with the valve when retracted and destroy to some extent the accuracy of the charging operation, which must obviously be very precise. The specific arrangement of cylinder port, valve port 21, and relief port or duct 3| is therefore considered to be an important feature of the present invention.

As most clearly shown in Figures 4 and 14, the valve supporting plate 25 is urged upwardly by coiled compression springs 33, there being two of these springs, each having its upper end resting against the undersurface of the plate and its lower end resting upon a supporting bracket 34. Each such bracket is a generally U-shaped member one end 34' of which is hook-shaped and engages a stationary rod 35 supported upon downwardly extending flanges 23', rigid with block 23, the opposite and somewhat similarly formed end 34 resting upon one end of a pin 36 at the end of the shorter arm of a lever 31. This lever is connected by means of a pivot pin 38 to the lower end of a link 39, link 33 having at its upper end a pin 40 which lies within a slot formed in a bracket 4| rigidly secured to block 23. The lever 31 may be rocked upwardly about the axis of pin 38 as a center, thus causing pin 36 to press horizontally against bracket 34 and swinging pin 36 outwardly on an are centered on pin 40.

The initial upward rocking movement of lever 31 is opposed by spring 33, acting through bracket 34, and the bracket end 34 will be moved upwardly slightly against the opposition of this spring. As soon, however, as the axis of pin 36 has passed the line of centers of pins 36 and 43, spring 33 becomes ineffective to oppose further movement of lever 31 which lever, and link 39, may then be swung upwardly into the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure 14, the pin 36 being completely withdrawn from engagement with the bracket 34. After both brackets have been released in this manner the plate 25, together with the brackets and intermediate springs 33, may be removed as a unit, being readily lifted from rod 35. This assembly may be as readily replaced by simply reversing this sequence of operations and when the levers 31 are moved into full line position (Figure 14) the associated springs 33 will be placed under compression, so that the upper face of valve plate 25 closely engages the undersurface of the valve 24 and urges this valve upwardly so that its upper surface is at all times in close engagement with the valve seating surface of block 23.

It will be perceived also from Figure 14 that the valve 24 is laterally confined by block 23, the valve being in reality received within an elongated groove formed in the block. When the plate 25 is lowered the valve, if present, will fall andit is therefore preferred that the valve be removed by attaching a tool to the eye 24 at its end, provided for this purpose, and pulling it longitudinally from its operative position, prior to removal of plate 25. The general purpose of this construction is to provide a simple and efficient means for maintaining the slide valve in close engagement with the undersurface of block 23 and which will also automatically compensate for wear which may occur over the working surfaces of the valve and block, and also to provide a valve support construction which may be readily disassembled from the remaining portions of the mechanism for the purpose of sterilization, leaving the valve slide accessiblefor cleaning.

The small port in the bottom of the valve duct 26 is adapted to register, with the valve in the position shown in Figure 4, with an offtake duct 46 formed in the valve plate, this duct being normally closed by a manually operable plug valve generally indicated at 41. The valve 41 may be opened to drain the valve port 26 and duct 28 of its liquid contents at the conclusion of a run of the machine and prior to bodily removal of the valve in the manner just stated. In order that the valve plate 25, supporting springs 33, and brackets 34 may be removed and replaced as a unit, each bracket 34 is loosely connected to valve plate 25 by meansof a bolt 46, the upper end of which is threaded into a cylindrical aperture in the valve plate, and which passes through an aperture in bracket 34, its threaded lower end having an abutment nut 49 and a lock nut 50 thereon. When the parts are in the operative position shown in Figure 14, there is a slight clearance between the upper face of abutment nut 49 and the bracket 34.

Both valves 24 are simultaneously reciprocated by mechanism which is most clearly illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Parallel to each valve is a rod 52 each supported for longitudinal sliding movement in the associated block 23. One end of each rod 52 is fixedly connected to a crosshead 53, horizontally disposed, and the ends of which lie opposite the ends of the slide valves respectively. Crosshead 53 is operatively connected to a rocker 54 by means of a link 55, the rocker 54 being mounted for swinging movement about the axis of a pin, which is vertically disposed. Also mounted for rocking movement about pin 55 is a rocker 51, one end of which carries a roller 58 which projects into a cam groove 59 formed in a cam 60 mounted upon the horizontal rotary shaft As shaft SI and cam 50 are revolved, the rocker 51 is caused to swing or oscillate about the axis of pin 56 and, as shown in Figure 6, the end of rocker 51 remote from roller 58 is bifurcated and the end of rocker 54 remote from link 55 extends downwardly between the arms of this bifurcated end of lever 51. Adjusting screws 62 projecting through the arms of rocker 51 just mentioned contact with opposite faces of the end of rocker 54 so that rockers 54 and 51 are constrained to move simultaneously as rocker 51 is oscillated by cam 60. The two rockers thus together comprise in effect a single bell crank lever by means of which the motion of cam 60 is communicated to the link 55 and crosshead 53, which lever is in two parts adjustably connected together so that the angular relationship of the arms of the lever, and hence the position of the crosshead, may be adjusted as desired.

Each slide valve 24 carries at one end an adlusting screw 63, the head 64 of which rests against, but is not secured to, the adjacent face of crosshead 53. By turning screw 53 the distance between the valve and crosshead may be varied and each screw is provided with a lock nut 85 whereby it may be firmly clamped in adjusted position. Each rod 52 carries upon the end thereof remote from crosshead 53 a pusher member 56, each pusher having a cylindrical body portion 51 directly mounted upon rod 52 so as to be rotatable but not longitudinally movable thereon, and a laterally projecting wing 68 which, when in normal position, lies opposite the adjacent end of the associated valve 24.

When the pusher wings 68 are so positioned it is clear that, when rods 52 are moved to the right (figure 6), the valves will likewise be moved to the right. Return movement of the valves is effected by the crosshead 53, acting upon the screw heads 54, and hence the valves are moved by forces applied to their ends alternately by the coaction of the operating parts described, and in the operation of the mechanism are reciprocated simultaneously by power derived from shaft 6| and in synchronism with the movements of the piston 2|. The pusher wings 68 are normally maintained in valve engaging position by means of a spring Hi, the ends of which are connected to the pusher members, respectively, and maintain these members in contact with fixed rotation limiting stops.

It is highly desirable that either or both of the valves be rendered inoperative automatically in the event that, for one reason or another, the conveying mechanism fails to bring a container beneath one or both of the discharge nozzles of the mechanism. Means is therefore provided for displacing either or both of the pusher wings 68, thus rendering it inoperative and incapable of moving the associated valve toward discharge position, thereby preventing wastage of liquid in the event that a container fails to be placed below either or both of the liquid discharge nozzles just prior to the time when liquid is to be discharged. This mechanism will be now described.

Each pusher 56 has fixed thereon a cam 1| and each such cam is adapted to be engaged by a vertically disposed pin 12, these pins.being directly above the paths of cams 1| but being mounted so as to be downwardly movable into the paths of movement of the cams in the event of a failure in the supply of containers. When the pusher wings 58 are positioned as shown in Figure 6 the valves will be moved to the right when rods 52 and crossheads 53 are moved in this direction. In the event that the automatic means indicates the absence from the conveyor of a container, so that one valve should not be operated but should be lifted in the position in which it is shown in Figure 6, it is necessary of course that the corresponding wings 58 be depressed or moved to inoperative position. This movement of wing 68 to inopera tive position is accomplished by the associated pin 12 which pin is lowered into the path of movement of cam 1| while the valve assembly is at the right-hand limit of its movement. Therefore, when the valve assembly is forced to the left, this pin 12 engages the left-hand cam face of cam 1| of the pusher member 15, thereby causing the pusher wing to move downwardly. During the next movement to the right of the crosshead 53 and bars 52 the depressed pusher wing will pass to the left and below the bottom face of the associated valve. Hence no movement of this valve will occur during the movement of the remainder of the valve assembly toward tha right and hence there will be no dscharge of milk or other liquid from the nozzle controlled by this valve until the pin 12 has been lifted out of the path of movement of cam H. The pusher wing of the right-hand pusher, illus-- trated in Figure 2, is shown in such depressed position and the pusher wing of the lefthand pusher is shown in operative position so that, were the crossheads and rods 52 to be operated at this time, only the left-hand valve would be advanced, the right hand valve remaining stationary. If both pins 12 are lowered, both valves will remain stationary.

Pins 12 are slidably housed in cylindrical vertical apertures formed in the ends of the transverse bracket member 15 secured to the bridg-.

ing'member l2. The upper end of each pin is, above bracket 15, enlarged and vertically slotted, as shown in Figure 3. Extending transversely across each such slot, at the upper end thereof, is a rotatable pin 16 upon which is fixed the swinging abutment 11, which may be, by means of a lever 15 fixed to the end of pin 15, moved from the position in which it is shown in full lines in Figure 10, to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in the same figure. Abutment 11 normally occupies the position in which it is shown in full lines in Figure and its lower end directly overlies one end of an arm 18, extending in a generally horizontal direction, the other end of this arm being fixed upon a horizontal shaft 19 mounted for rotation in bearings 80 supported in vertical webs 8| of a box-like member 8| rigidly attached to the main transversely extending supporting bracket I2.

Shaft 19 carries at the end thereof remote from the arm 18 a small bevel gear 82 the teeth of which are in constant mesh with those of a similar bevel gear 83 mounted upon the upper end of a short vertical shaft 84 rotatably supported in a bearing 85 carried by the member 8|. To the lower end of shaft 84 is pivotally attached the upper end of an elongated sleeve 88, which is square in cross-section, this sleeve having its lower end in proximity tothe container supporting and advancing means. Projecting upwardly within sleeve 86 is a rod 81 having at its upper end a head 88 which, while curved in vertical section, is rectangular in horizontal section so that, when rotated, its rotary motion will be transmitted to sleeve 88. The rod 81 may freely move vertically within the sleeve 88 as the conveyor supporting and advancing mechanism is raised or lowered. The lower end of rod 81 is mounted in bearings 89 supported in a bracket 99 rigidly attached to the side of one of the conveyor supporting rails I3 and the reduced lower end extension of rod 81 projects below bracket 99 and has fixed thereon a laterally projecting arm 9I.

To the outer end of arm 9I is pivotally connected one end of a link 92, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the end of a lever 93 having a horizontally projecting extension 93 the inner face of which is adapted to engage containers advanced along the container supporting rails I3. It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 11 that the throw-out lever 93 is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of a vertically disposed supporting shaft 98, the lower end of which is mounted in spaced bearings 91 supported in a bracket 98 also fixed to the side of supporting rail I3. A spring 99 having one end connected to the link 92 and its opposite end connected to a pin I99 projecting downwardly from bracket 99, normally urges link 92 to the left (Figure 9) and hence urges the lever 93 to rotate in a clockwise direction so that the inner surface of arm 93 of this lever is normally pressed against the side of advancing containers or, should no container be present to prevent movement of this lever, the spring will become active to rock this lever in a clockwise direction, movement of the lever being unopposed.

When such rocking movement of the lever 93 occurs, the vertical shaft 81 to which it is operatively connected by means of link 92 and arm 9| will likewise rotate, thus causing rotation of the sleeve 86, shaft 84, horizontal shaft 19, and hence downward movement of arm 18, thus depressing pin I2 and bringing its lower end into the path of movement of the cam II of the associated valve pusher. With the pin I2 in this position, as has previously been stated, the associated pusher will be rocked and its pusher wing deflected downwardly out of valve engaging position so that the valve may not be moved when crosshead 53 and rods 52 are actuated and no liquid will hence be discharged, thus avoiding waste, as there is no container beneath the discharge nozzle to receive the liquid. It will of course be understood that two container detecting mechanisms are provided, and two such mechanisms are illustrated, one associated with each valve. The operations of the mechanisms are identical, however, and their constructions essentially the same, although the second container engaging lever, indicated at I92, is horizontally spaced from the lever 93 and the link I93 is considerably shorter than the link 92. If it is desired to permanently throw either valve out of operation, the associated manually operable lever 19' is rocked to swing the corresponding abutment member 11 to inoperative position. When this is done pin I2 will drop and will remain in its lowered position until manually lifted, thus throwing one valve out of operation and rendering ineffective one of the charging units until abutment member 11 has again been moved into operative position.

The piston operating mechanism includes a cam II9 also fixed on shaft BI, this cam being cylindrical and having a cam track III which receives a roller or follower II2 which follows the cam track as the cam is revolved. Roller H2 is mounted upon the end of one arm of a rocker H3 mounted for rocking movement about the axis of a horizontally disposed arbor or stub shaft Ill projecting inwardly from a securin bracket I I5 mounted upon the frame member II. The horizontally disposed arm 3' of this bell crank lever is provided at its end with a ball H3 which is housed within the lower end of a vertically extending push rod H8. Push rod II6 has fixed upon its upper end a sleeve 1 which receives a ball I I8 connected to one end of a rocker II9. Rocker H9 is pivotally supported upon the upper end of a pedestal or bracket I29 rigidly secured to frame member I2 and the free ends of the diverging arms of this rocker, which is bifurcated, overlie respectively, 3L1: cylinders 29 of the two filling units M and The pistons 2I are connected to the ends of the arms of rocker II9 by means of piston rods I22, each piston rod being pivotally. connected to the associated piston and extending upwardly therefrom to a point substantially above the top of the cylinder and between parallel fingers II9' projecting from the ends of the arms of the rocker. Slidably mounted upon each rod I22 is a sleeve I23 and this sleeve is connected to the adjacent end of the arm of rocker H9 in such manner that it will be moved vertically by and with the rocker and to the same extent. Thus, diametrically opposed pins I24 have their inner ends secured to sleeve I23 and these pins lie within notches formed in the ends of parallel fingers H9 at the end of the rocker arm, comprising pivot pins connecting the sleeve and rocker. Encircling each piston rod I22 above sleeve I23 is a coiled spring I25 and a similar spring I26 is located below this sleeve, the adjacent ends of the springs bearing against opposite ends ofthe sleeve. A nut I21 threaded on a tube I28 which encircles piston rod I22 comprises the upper abutment of spring I25, tube I28 being held against upward movement relatively to the piston rod by abutment and locking nuts I29 and I39 threaded on the upper end of this rod.

The lower end of tube I28 rests against the upper end of a nut I 3 I, threaded upon the piston rod and held in definite position by means of a lock nut I32. Nut I3I comprises an abutment for the lower end of the lower spring I28. Latches I34 on opposite sides of the rocker end, rotatably supported upon pins I35 and provided with notches I38, retain pins I24 within the notches in the end of rocker II9 provided-for their reception. When these latches are lifted the piston rods may be disconnected from the rocker II9. Rocker H9 is mounted for rocking movement upon a pivot pin I38 which passes through aligned apertures in the spaced upwardly extending fianges I29 of pedestal I 29 and also through the rocker II9, which lies intermediate these flanges, as shown in Figure 1'7. A projecting end of pin I38 has a neck I38" of reduced diameter and a frusto-conical end portion I40 as shown clearly in Figure 17. The pedestal I28 is provided with two laterally spaced sets of apertures to receive the pin I38 and the rocker H8 is likewise provided with two laterally spaced pin receiving apertures so that the movement of the rocker may be about either oi two fulcrum points or axes. By shifting pin I38 the axis about which the rocker I I8 moves may be horizontally shifted, the operator being thus able to modify the relative vertical movements of the two ends of the rocker at will. The pivot pin I38 is retained in position in either case by means of a swinging latch I which engages the reduced neck of the pin I38. In Figure 3 the pin is shown to be in its left-hand position and the vertical movements of the ends of the rocker, during operation of the mechanism, are very nearly equal, the pin being very nearly equidistantly spaced from the ends of the rocker. When the pin I38, however, is shifted to the two right-hand apertures in the flanges I28, one of which is indicated at I20, it is then much closer to the right-hand end of the rocker than to the left-hand end and a given vertical movement of the rounded end H8 01 the rocker will cause a much greater movement of that end of the rocker which is connected to the piston rods.

With the pin in the position shown in Figure 3. oscillation of the rocker will bring about travel of the pistons such as to give one-half pint piston displacements in the cylinders whereas with the pin in its right-hand position. or in apertures I2Ii of the pedestal I20 the pistons will be reciprocated in the cylinders to give volumetric piston displacements of one pint. In this way the filling unit is adjusted to fill pint or quart containers.

The actual vertical movement of each piston in its cylinder, however, must be most accurately controlled and the operating mechanism described is not relied upon to efi'ect such accurate displacement. Thus each cylinder is provided with a stop, one of which is indicated at I42 in Figure 2. This stop is in the form of a hollow cylinder the lower portion or skirt oi which closely fits the cylinder wall and the reduced upper portion of which is externally threaded and projects above the cylinder. It is supported in the position in which it is shown by means of a ring I 43 which rests upon the annular upper edge oi the cylinder I20 and is detachably secured to such cylinder by swinging bolts I44 provided with wing nuts I45. The annular lower edge of sleeve I42 comprises a stop for the piston and upward movement of the piston immediately terminates when its upper edge strikes this sleeve.

Whatever the adjustment of pin I38 may be, the arrangement is such that the sleeve I 23 moves both upwardly and downwardly a distance, when the rocker is oscillated, somewhat greater than the possible travel of the piston, the downward movement of the piston being of course limited by its contact with the lower end of the cylinder wall, and its upward movement by sleeve I42, and the excess of vertical movements or travel of sleeve I23 over that of the piston simply results in the alternate compression of the springs I 25 and I26. By this arrangement, therefore, the piston may be moved very precisely between fixed stops by an actuating mechanism which includes a member to which the piston is connected, which member is moved to greater distances, without, however, subjecting the piston to shock and without requiring a precisely built piston operating mechanism.

For the stop I42 which is shown in Figure 2. and which is intended to permit a volumetric piston displacement of one-half pint, a shorter stop may be substituted, permitting the piston to have a one pint volumetric displacement. Thus stop I42 may be removed from the stop supporting ring I43 and the shorter stop inserted in this ring. As will be perceived in Figure 15, the ring I48 is split, having enlargements I43 at its ends. A bolt I41 has threaded engagement with the wall of a cylindrical aperture formed in one of these enlarged ends and has a reduced portion which extends through an aligned cylindrical aperture in the other end portion I43. A nut I48 is threaded upon the projecting end of this reduced portion by means of which the ends I43 0! the ring I43 may be drawn tightly together to clamp the end of the stop I42. After the nut I48 has been turned to clamping position a wire I88 may be passed through an aperture in this nut and through an aperture in the adjacent end I43 of the ring, the ends of the wire being connected by a seal ISI, for instance a lead inspection seal. The ring cannot be removed from the stop, or alternatively, the stop cannot be removed from the ring, unless the seal is broken or the wire is cut, thus insuring that the piston displacement cannot be altered without the knowledge of a responsible party.

It will be observed that the ring I43 has projecting therefrom a lug I83, which is angularly spaced from a radial line normal to a diameter projected through the securing bolts I44. Ring I43 is also so formed that either annular surface may be uppermost or lowermost. these surfaces being parallel. Obviously if its position is reversed, the lug I53 will occupy a diflerent position from that in which it is shown in full lines in Figure 15, i. e., it will be shifted to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in this figure. It is intended that, in the use of the apparatus, a half pint stop shall be inserted, when used, into the ring from one side and a pint stop, when used, from the other side, suitable legends being inscribed on the ring to make this clear to the operator. Hence when the pint stop has been affixed to the ring, one face of the ring will be in contact with the upper end of the cylinder and when the half pint stop is amxed thereto, the opposite face of the ring will rest upon the upper edge of the cylinder.

A switch box is indicated at I88 and the projecting ends or buttons of two switch operating plungers or elements at I58 and I 51 respectively. The lug I53 of the ring I 43 will engage and depress one or the other of these switch operating elements when the ring is positioned and the element which is so engaged will depend upon the position of the lug I53, 1. e., whether a pint stop or a half pint stop has been attached to the ring I43. In the wiring diagram (Figure 16), the wires I58 and I 59 are mains connected to a power source, through the motor which actuates the cam shaft BI. The switch operating elements I56 and I51 are diagrammatically shown and switch blades to which these elements are connected are diagrammatically indicated at I56 and I51. A further switch operating element is indicated at I60 and a switch blade at I60. The switch blade I60 is enclosed within a switch box I6! (Figure 3) immediately underlying pin I38 and. with this pin in operative position, its head I48 engages and depresses the switch blade and closes the circuit at this point.

When the mechanism is arranged to fill pint placed, each has associated therewith a limit containers, i. e., each filling unit arranged for one-half pint piston displacement, the rocker H9 is pivoted as shown in Figure 3 and the stop supporting ring is arranged as shown in full lines in Figure 15. Plungers I51 and I60 are both depressed and the motor circuit is complete so that the mechanism is operative. Were the fulcrum pin I38 in its right-hand position, however, or pint delivery position, the plunger I60 would not be depressed and erate. Hence possible breakage due to movement of the piston against a half pint piston stop, at the time that the rocker is adjusted for a full pint measuring movement, is avoided. With the ring, piston stop, and rocker adjusted for full pint piston displacement, the plunger I56 is depressed by lug I53 and the motor circuit thus completed. When the ring is not in position upon the cylinder the machine is of course inoperative.

Liquid to be measured and dispensed is brought to the apparatus through an overhead pipe or conduit I10 the upper end of which is connected by a coupling I1I to the upper end of a pipe I12 which projects vertically downward into the constant level tank I13. Upon the lower end of this pipe I12 is threaded a cup-shaped member I14 which comprises an adjustable valve seat, having a frusto-conical upwardly tapering valve seating surface I15. By rotating member I14 this valve seat may be vertically adjusted. Slidably mounted upon pipe I12 is a tube I18 upon which is fixed a spherical float I11, the axis of the float coinciding with the axes of pipe I12 and tube I16.

A strap I18 attached to the undersurface of float I11 carries a sleeve I19 into which is threaded a cylindrical member I80 which carries a frusto-conical valve I8I adapted to engage the correspondingly shaped valve seat I15. Both valve and valve seat are thus readily detachable forpthe purpose of cleaning and sterilization, a very important advantage. When liquid has entered the tank I13 to a desired level the valve i8I will seat and further flow be interrupted until the liquid level falls. Member I14 may also be removed and another, with discharge aperture of different diameter, inserted. This may be done to obtain best operating performances despite differences in static head of the liquid being supplied.

A downtake conduit I82 leads from the bottom oftank I13 to the midpoint of a horizontal manifold I83 and this manifold is in communication with the two conduits 28 leading to the filling unit valves. Manifold I83 has an extension I83 connected to downtake pipe I84 through valve I85. Normally valve I85 is closed but is opened when it is desired to drain the tank I13 and manifold of its contained liquid. It has been found that the precise arrangement of tank and liquid distribution pipes illustrated is particularly advantageous when the mechanism is handling a liquid which has a tendency to foam when agitated. It insures a steady flow of liquid to the valves under constant static pressure.

All parts of the mechanism which may ordinarily come into contact with the liquid being dispensed are fabricated of rust-resisting metal and most of these parts are so'mounted and connected together that the mechanism. may be readily dismantled for the purpose of sterilization. The manner in which the valves and valve supporting plates may be removed has been previously described. It may be added, however, that, to prevent accidental displacement of a valve when the corresponding pusher wing has been disthe mechanism would not op-' latch which must first be displaced before a valve can be drawn from its operative position. These latches are illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, each. comprising a rotatable part I81 mounted in a fixed bearing I88 and having a knurled operating I90 and having a downturned end I9I whichlies button I89, the latch proper being indicated at in the pathof movement of the adjacent valve.

Before removal of be lifted.

a valve this limit latch must While in the foregoing specification it has been stated that both filling units are employed in the charging of of the container, each unit introducing one-half of the total charge, this procedure need not necessarily be carried out. Thus, in charging liquids any container, regardless of the size which have little tendency to foam, one filling unit may be employed to completely fill containers of all sizes, the other being rendered inoperative if desired, In charging a liquid such as milk, it is found possible to use one filling unit only to fill containers of small capacity,

charged and the nature of the liquid being handled.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, a liquid chamber having a discharge port leading downwardly therefrom and terminating in an aperture formed in a seating surface fora slide valve, a slide valve closely seating against said surface and having a port formed thereinv which may be brought into or out of register valve having a duet with said aperture, said formed therein which leads from the upper end of said valve port to a point of communication.

with the atmosphere whereby air under atmospheric pressure may freely enter said times.

2. The combination set forth in claim inwhich said duct comprises a groove or recess formed in the seating surface of the slide valve. 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in port at all such as half pints and pints, and desirable to use both units 'to l which the aperture and valve port are circular the seating surface of the slide valve.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatuscomprising a and the diameter of the valve said aperture, and. the duct comprises a groove or recess formed in Y,

cylinder, a piston slidably supported therein for movement between fixed stops, a rocker, means supporting the rocker for oscillation about any one of a plurality of axes, and means including a resilient element connecting the piston and rocker.

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a I cylinder,

a piston slidably supported therein for supporting the rocker for oscillation about any one of a plurality of axes, a piston rod pivotally connected to said piston, a slide on said rod operatively connected to one end of said rocker, and yielding means for communicating motion of the slide to the piston rod.

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, stop means for the piston whereby the piston may be positively stopped at various points in its travel, a rocker connected to the piston, and means for modifying the rocking movement of the rocker in accordance with the piston travel.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which said last mentioned means comprises a shiftable fulcrum upon which the rocker is mounted for oscillation.

9. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a cylinder, a piston, piston actuating means, stop means whereby the piston travel may be positively stopped at one of a plurality of points, adjustable piston actuating mechanism including a motor circuit and means for varying the piston travel, and a switch in the motor circuit which is closed by the stop means only when the stop is arranged to halt the piston at a point approximately corresponding to the end of the piston stroke as determined by the piston actuating mechanism.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which the stop means includes a member adapted for attachment to the cylinder in any one of a plurality of positions, and the switch is engageable by said member in one operative position of said member.

11. A container charging mechanism comprising in combination, a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the flow of fluid to said nozzle, a conveyor for containers, valve operating means,

,and automatic means for rendering the valve operating means inoperative when no container is presented to the discharge nozzle, said automaticmeans including a manually adjustable member which, when moved to one position renders said automatic means inoperative and when moved to a second position renders said autoelements may be matic means operative.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11in which said member is pivotally mounted upon a reciprocable element forming portion of the automatic means.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11 in which the automatic means includes a reciprocable element having opposed abutments between which a second element of said means is normally located, so that movement of said second element results in reciprocation of said first element, one of said abutments being manually adjustable relatively to said first element so that the operative connection between said broken when desired.

14. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, a chamber for a liquid having a discharge port in its bottom, means for effecting the discharge through said port of a precisely measured volume of liquid, a valve chamber below port extending vertically therethrough to permit the free downward flow of liquid discharged from said chamber when said valve and chamber ports are in register, the area of the valve port being greater'than that of the chamber port so. that the edges of the chamber port are out of contact with the valve when said ports are in registration. said valve having a duct therein which leads from the upper end of the valve port to the atmosphere, whereby atmospheric air may enter said port at all times, and means for sliding said valve.

15. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, a chamber for a liquid having a discharge port in its bottom, means for effecting the discharge through said port of a precisely measured volume of liquid, a valve chamber below and in communication with said port, and a valve slidable in said chamber and having a discharge port extending vertically therethrough to permit the free downward flow of liquid discharged from said chamber when said valve and chamber ports are in register, the valve and cylinder ports being similar in horizontal section but all,

horizontal dimensions of the upper end of the valve port being greater than the corresponding dimensions of the chamber port so that the edges of the chamber port overhang the valve port when said ports are in register, said valve having a duct therein which leads from the upper end of the valve port to the atmosphere, whereby atmospheric air may enter said port at all times, and means for sliding said valve.

16. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, a receptacle for a liquid having a discharge port terminating in an aperture formed in a member having a seating surface for a slide valve, a plate having a valve seating surface disposed parallel to said first mentioned valve seating surface, a ported valve intermediate said surfaces, and means securing said to support said valve, said means including a supporting bracket connected to said member at spaced points on opposite sides thereof, one of said connections comprising a quick detachable connection, and resilient means resting on the bracket and engaging the plate.

17. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, a receptacle for a liquid having a discharge port terminating in an aperture formed in a member having a seating surface for a slide valve, a plate having a valve seating surface disposed parallel to said first mentioned valve seating surface, a ported valve intermediate said surfaces, and means securing said plate in position to support said valve, said means including a supporting bracket connected to said member at thereof, one of said connections comprising a link one end of which is pivotally connected to said member and a lever pivotally connected to the free end of the link and the end of one arm of which normally engages the bracket at a point outside of a line connecting the pivotal axes of the link and lever, and resilient means interposed between and tending to separate the bracket and plate.

18. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, a receptacle for a liquid having a discharge port terminating in an aperture formed in a member having a seating surface for a slide valve, a plate having a valve seating surface dis posed parallel to said first mentioned valve seating surface, a ported valve intermediate said surfaces, and means securing said plate in position to support said valve, said member.

JULIUS E. WOLLENWEBER. 

